Nigeria Orders Arrest Of Pfizer Defendants
36 CommentsBy Ed Silverman // December 25th, 2007 // 9:46 am
A Nigerian court has ordered the arrests of three of the defendants in a trial over a drug test conducted by Pfizer in 1996 which Nigerian authorities say killed 11 children and left others disabled, Reuters reports.
UPDATE: The Pfizer people are Ngozi Edozen, Pfizer’s managing director in Nigeria (pictured to the left), Larry Barry and Segun Duro, This Day reports. They are among 10 people, including Bill Steere, a Pfizer board member and former ceo, who were identified previously by Nigerian officials potentially facing criminal charges.
At issue are charges that Pfizer illegally conducted an unauthorized Trovan trial on about 200 children at a government hospital during a triple epidemic of measles, cholera and meningitis in which 12,000 people died. The episode led to the death of 11 children and various deformities - including deafness, blindness, paralysis and brain damage - in 189 others. Pfizer denies doing anything illegal and insists government permission was granted.
The Nigerian federal government is seeking $7 billion in damages and the Kano state government is seeking another $2 billion in addition to the criminal charges. Authorities in Kano blame the episode for widespread suspicion of government public health policies, helping fuel a drive by local Islamic leaders who briefly halted polio vaccination efforts in northern Nigeria, causing related infections in other countries where polio had been all-but eradicated.
UPDATE TWO: On Thursday, Pfizer reportedly says it will fight the arrest warrants.
The High Court in Kano held a hearing in the state’s criminal case against Pfizer. Lawyers for Pfizer were present but Judge Shehu Atiku complained that individual defendants should have been there and issued arrest warrants against three of them. Pfizer is arguing in a separate process in a Lagos court that the defendants were not properly served criminal summons and therefore were not technically charged or obliged to appear in court, Reuters writes.
The civil and criminal cases launched by the state and federal governments since May have developed into a tangle of unresolved petitions and side issues, dragging on from one adjournment to the next. No witness has been heard and no substantive issue tackled, Reuters reports. Atiku adjourned the Kano state criminal case to January 29 to hear a motion in which Pfizer challenges the court’s jurisdiction.
Hat tip to Pharmagossip for the first update
pg
Go Nigeria, show the US, the UK and Europe what you are supposed to do to protect your children as we appear to have lost the plot.
We just let them kill our children.
GB
PG,
You are so very, and so very unfortunately, right. I hope Pfizer learns a painfully expensive lesson from this lawsuit. Money is all that matters to Pfizer. The loss of life due to their experiments on human beings means absolutely nothing to them.
Matt
I hope Nigeria comes out on top.
Doug
Matt…maybe since you have an opposing viewpoint, maybe share WHY you hope Nigeria comes out on top.
pg
You could ask the rest of us, Doug, as we have the same opposing viewpoint as Matt.
resimler
I hope Nigeria comes out on top.
oktay usta
Matt…maybe since you have an opposing viewpoint, maybe share WHY you hope Nigeria comes out on top.
Caren Azules
Such incisive dialog from the big pharma baiters/haters… with no factual knowledge and armed with spurious allegations, a lynch mob forms… and in support of the originators of the credible 419 business model… hear the call. crucify Pfizer… crucify Pfizer… crucify Pfizer… crucify Pfizer… revenge is ours! the nut-roots are simply amazing!
Brian
No good deed goes unpunished. When you create a drug to help sick people you have to go to where they live. These serious infections exist only in Africa where literacy is non-existent. How would the readers of this post propose to advance medical care in this environment? No one cries for the millions of kids that die untreated. The doctor’s mantra: “first do no harm” means doctors are comfortable letting people die if they haven’t touched them. Most of the folks here wouldn’t lift a finger to help someone because they are afraid of being sued. Give Pfizer some credit for trying to help folks that would have certainly died without treatment.
Hank
“These serious infections exist only in Africa where literacy is non-existent.”
For Nigeria, the literacy (both reading and writing) rate is about 68%. It is 75% for men, and 60+% for women, related to who gets to go to school, etc..
I agree we should not jump to conclusions about this case (or about Africa, for that matter).
James
Brian, I think you’re overstating what Pfizer did by calling it a “good deed.” Let’s be honest–Pfizer went to Nigeria in pursuit of profit, not on a humanitarian mission. And if it is true, as significant evidence would indicate, that Pfizer cut some serious corners in their informed consent procedures, they should stand trial.
It is only appropriate that companies conducting business in a given country should comply w/ those laws. If Pfizer did not, and a court finds such, those involved should pay the price.
Now, those who parrot the LVS-style “off with their heads, evil drug-pushing b*stards” are, of course, ridiculous. But they don’t deserve some sort of gold star for doing what companies should do–looking to make a profit.
Brian
This type of infection doesn’t exist in other parts of the world. It was a good test for this new drug. Not a lot of money to be made in Africa as you know, what are you saying Pfizer had to gain? Their governments and courts are uniformly corrupt. Pfizer officials will certainly not get a fair trial and I think you know that too. Despite what anyone says the sick children had illiterate parents who had to depend on corrupt government translators. While you’re searching for literacy rates look up some quotes about what causes AIDS from African leaders (ha ha). Their leaders remain quite wealthy while their people continue to suffer, no argument there. Let’s see some indictments of their leaders before we hold Pfizer folks responsible. Let’s not ask the least of those you support and the most from your enemies. This drug was created by scientists who were trying their best to create a safe therapeutic, lets come to our senses on medicine and it’s side effects..
James
Brian, there is a *ton* of money to be made doing business in Africa, if not from the people living there, then from the good will it generates. Had Trovan been a success, Pfizer could have talked night and day saying “look at how much we care, we developed a drug for an African disease, and sell it cheap.” Probably could have Montel do the commercials.
Again, this does not make Pfizer bad, anymore than KitchenAid is a bad company for making a pink stand mixer to profit from, umm, I mean, help the cause of, breast cancer research.
Indeed, if Pfizer weren’t trying to make a profit, I would have a problem with them. They are doing right by their shareholders and employees. And I don’t think that the scientists in the lab were greedily twisting their handlebar mustaches ala Snidley Whiplash, cackling at how Trovan would be just the p.r. boon the company needed.
But, again, if people overseeing the clinical trial conned parents, literate or otherwise, into letting their children be injected with an experimental drug without the proper disclosure, those responsible should pay according to local law.
Do you disagree?
pg
Its probably basic info on which we all judge what is BAD and what isn’t, and then on how we judge how LIKELY it is that someone behaves badly or not in any further given situation.
Pfizer have been considerate enough on that score (google: Pfizer guilty) to have provided us with a substantial history to assist us in making what are likely to be fairly accurate guesses (thank you Pfizer) such as:
“Uh Oh, THAT was Illegal, just LOOK at that plea of guilty to criminal and civil charges and the fines imposed…OH NO! AND the one before… Good God…AND the one before that..HMM! Look at how they hid that negative data… HUH? NOT ANOTHER judgement against them?”
I think Pfizers OWN record may well have some effect on how we judge their behaviour in Nigeria - and that isn’t anti pharma, its simply looking at how PFIZER have behaved to date.
Brian
Everything about pharma requires operation in a restrictive environment that is imposed by you and your courts. The business is the hardest to operate in this world based upon the challenges of science and disease and then the regulatory - legal environment and the scrutiny of the modern press. You have turned it into a race against time with lots of money need upfront and tons of restrictive laws and minutia that can be impossible to navigate without a mistake… Don’t you think it’s designed to induce and then catch human error so you can count everything as a major breach of the public trust.. How about cutting these folks some slack.. You couldn’t handle these restrictions in your stupid business why demand more of others??? Turn on the tube and watch the charlatans selling bowel cleanse or secrets pharma doesn’t want you to know, immune stimulants etc etc.. all un regulated and unproven..
pg
Nigeria will get the blame, what vaccine maker has ever taken responsibility for inefficacy of or injuries from vaccines?
Historical List of success of Vaccines
Video “Overwhelming Evidence”
pg
Vaccine makers won’t take responsibility for deaths on Gardasil either.
Children on Gardasil “Guinea Pigs” - Not to worry though as regulators will monitor if AFTER approval and despite warnings.
Lisa Van S
James,
I take it, that, the LVS Style gets under your skin. I will take that as a compliment, Thank You!!!
Bob
More like the LVS style is uninformed and idiotic.
But I’m glad you’re naive enough to take it as a compliment.
pg
Brian, I’m too busy reading up what LITERATE opinion leaders in the West tell us about the cause of AIDS while at the same time doing their best to silence scientific debate about any factor which might mean accepting some responsibility. Their doing so is never funny, particularly when dealing with issues that cause widespread sickness and death. [In response to 'While you’re searching for literacy rates look up some quotes about what causes AIDS from African leaders (ha ha).']
Google and YouTube both have a series of 6 videos called Origin of Aids.
It would be interesting to see open debate being welcomed by Western KOLs about information those videos contain, unfortunately so far, it isn’t.
pg
Just found the complete film online. Origin of Aids
Brian
Sorry but your leaders are not leading us in the right direction which ever direction they come from. Currently the only folks doing anything to battle HIV are the scientists who work anonymously at PHARMACEUTICAL companies and the doctors who treat their patients. No debate there. The environment of disease and corruption, you are talking about, was man made by “leaders†with great charisma and power. Don’t read anymore about their ideas. See where you can really help and make sure you choose your side carefully.
TOdd
pg,
did you read this part - you are literate correct?
“Authorities in Kano blame the episode for widespread suspicion of government public health policies, helping fuel a drive by local Islamic leaders who briefly halted polio vaccination efforts in northern Nigeria, causing related infections in other countries where polio had been all-but eradicated.”
So now you are telling me that something on you tube constitutes your scientific research? Did you see the one where the cat sneezes? Or the baby that can’t stay awake? How about the guy who dances? Those are probably as factual about AIDS as anything on youtube.
Have you heard of Magic Johnson? He is still alive do to the magic of medicine.
I am going to take the side of western KOL’s and not entertain debate with the uninformed - but HAPPY NEW YEAR!
TOdd
Just for entertainment, I clicked on this link
http://www.vaccinationdebate.com/web2.html
WOW!!! If this is who you are going to for medical advice - please check out different sites. Although this site is not always pro-medicine I believe the aim is to improve medicine. Not live in the australian outback and pretend the world isn’t changing and evolving. But what do I know, I am just living in America, not Nigeria. Oh yeah and I have helped people get well - not scare them away from medical treatment. We go to doctors here for advice, not shaman, australian outbackers, and Muslim clerics - we are idiots! We have something to learn from the third world on the practice of medicine. Help your country, try to get some vaccinations going.
pg
TOdd: The documentary involves experts amongst others - in what way does a documentary apppearing on Google or YouTube affect the validity of their expertise, their opinion, or the documentary? If you go to a library, does the existence of a fiction section invalidate what is in the reference section of that library?
Brian, I can assure you that I do my best, in my small way, to try to open debate, not to silence it and I will continue to do so. I, like anyone else, am free to post links to what I believe should be investigated and debated and you likewise are free to criticise that opinion. Your doing so, or TOdd, in whatever way you choose (and its noted that TOdd likes to do what people DO do to silence others - try to discredit them by attacks such as stating how ‘uninformed’ they are) will not determine what I decide to post. Happy New Year.
http://www.vaccinationdebate.com/web2.html
“- In 1871-2, England, with 98% of the population aged between 2 and 50 vaccinated against smallpox, it experienced its worst ever smallpox outbreak with 45,000 deaths. During the same period in Germany, with a vaccination rate of 96%, there were over 125,000 deaths from smallpox. (The Hadwen Documents)
- In Germany, compulsory mass vaccination against diphtheria commenced in 1940 and by 1945 diphtheria cases were up from 40,000 to 250,000. (Don’t Get Stuck, Hannah Allen)
- In the USA in 1960, two virologists discovered that both polio vaccines were contaminated with the SV 40 virus which causes cancer in animals as well as changes in human cell tissue cultures. Millions of children had been injected with these vaccines. (Med Jnl of Australia 17/3/1973 p555)
- In 1967, Ghana was declared measles free by the World Health Organisation after 96% of its population was vaccinated. In 1972, Ghana experienced one of its worst measles outbreaks with its highest ever mortality rate. (Dr H Albonico, MMR Vaccine Campaign in Switzerland, March 1990)
- In the UK between 1970 and 1990, over 200,000 cases of whooping cough occurred in fully vaccinated children. (Community Disease Surveillance Centre, UK)
- In the 1970’s a tuberculosis vaccine trial in India involving 260,000 people revealed that more cases of TB occurred in the vaccinated than the unvaccinated. (The Lancet 12/1/80 p73)
- In 1977, Dr Jonas Salk who developed the first polio vaccine, testified along with other scientists, that mass inoculation against polio was the cause of most polio cases throughout the USA since 1961. (Science 4/4/77 “Abstracts” )
- In 1978, a survey of 30 States in the US revealed that more than half of the children who contracted measles had been adequately vaccinated. (The People’s Doctor, Dr R Mendelsohn)
- In 1979, Sweden abandoned the whooping cough vaccine due to its ineffectiveness. Out of 5,140 cases in 1978, it was found that 84% had been vaccinated three times! (BMJ 283:696-697, 1981)
-The February 1981 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association found that 90% of obstetricians and 66% of pediatricians refused to take the rubella vaccine.
- In the USA, the cost of a single DPT shot had risen from 11 cents in 1982 to $11.40 in 1987. The manufacturers of the vaccine were putting aside $8 per shot to cover legal costs and damages they were paying out to parents of brain damaged children and children who died after vaccination. (The Vine, Issue 7, January 1994, Nambour, Qld)
- In Oman between 1988 and 1989, a polio outbreak occurred amongst thousands of fully vaccinated children. The region with the highest attack rate had the highest vaccine coverage. The region with the lowest attack rate had the lowest vaccine coverage. (The Lancet, 21/9/91)
- In 1990, a UK survey involving 598 doctors revealed that over 50% of them refused to have the Hepatitis B vaccine despite belonging to the high risk group urged to be vaccinated. (British Med Jnl, 27/1/1990)
- In 1990, the Journal of the American Medical Association had an article on measles which stated ” Although more than 95% of school-aged children in the US are vaccinated against measles, large measles outbreaks continue to occur in schools and most cases in this setting occur among previously vaccinated children.” (JAMA, 21/11/90)
- In the USA, from July 1990 to November 1993, the US Food and Drug Administration counted a total of 54,072 adverse reactions following vaccination. The FDA admitted that this number represented only 10% of the real total, because most doctors were refusing to report vaccine injuries. In other words, adverse reactions for this period exceeded half a million! (National Vaccine Information Centre, March 2, 1994)
- In the New England Journal of Medicine July 1994 issue a study found that over 80% of children under 5 years of age who had contracted whooping cough had been fully vaccinated.
- On November 2nd, 2000, the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) announced that its members voted at their 57th annual meeting in St Louis to pass a resolution calling for an end to mandatory childhood vaccines. The resolution passed without a single “no” vote. (Report by Michael Devitt)”
pg
In what way are the above facts not worth reading from the vaccination debate link?
The only way to IMPROVE medicine, as an expert pointed out on the ORIGIN OF AIDS documentary is by transparent scientific debate.
NOT by trying to silence people by discrediting them.
TOdd
pg, I love to look at medicine in 1872, it does add to the discussion. Thanks for the link, started off the new year with a laugh. But seriously, help some people and get those children there vaccinated, or did you miss this again?
“Authorities in Kano blame the episode for widespread suspicion of government public health policies, helping fuel a drive by local Islamic leaders who briefly halted polio vaccination efforts in northern Nigeria, causing related infections in other countries where polio had been all-but eradicated.”
Just because it wasn’t written by an uneducated Australian does not mean it is not valid.
TOdd
So why arent’ the Muslim leaders being tried as criminals?
pg
I think we’re talking about Medicine, TOdd, not Muslim leaders. So keeping on topic, firstly yes - that was 1872, but I’m sure you noticed that the list goes up to 2000.
Good question though re people not being tried as criminals. In the field of medicine, why are individuals in or employed by Eli not being tried as criminals for hiding data re diabetes on Zyprexa? http://www.furiousseasons.com/zyprexadocs.html
Why are individuals in or employed by Pfizer not being tried as criminals for hiding information that showed homicidality in Zoloft studies? http://www.ssri-uksupport.com/PfizerZoloft1983.pdf
Why has no real action been shown re criminal investigations of GSK in the UK http://seroxatsecrets.wordpress.com/2007/01/09/the-mhra-criminal-investigations-and-glaxo/
etc.
And why would I want to promote vaccinations when a great deal of evidence shows that they are at best totally ineffective and, at worst, can spread disease?
I think time is better spent promoting SCIENTIFIC DEBATE so that vaccines - and medicines - move on and IMPROVE.
pg
- In Oman between 1988 and 1989, a polio outbreak occurred amongst thousands of fully vaccinated children. The region with the highest attack rate had the highest vaccine coverage. The region with the lowest attack rate had the lowest vaccine coverage. (The Lancet, 21/9/91)
TOdd
I think we’re talking about Medicine, TOdd, not Muslim leaders — then keep them out of medicine. Also I believe the topic was the horrendous justice system in Nigeria, not a vaccine debate - but I’ll entertain the topic for 5 more minutes.
Yes that list contained some current events. They were all taken out of context and believe it or not, you cannot sum up a good chunk of data on a cherry picked line that supports your thoughts. For instance in the Lancet article you state - yes the area with the highest attack rate had the highest rates, but that was because this was the most at risk group. And correct me, was the entire population vaccinated, or really even enough to have a “herd effect”?
When Jonas Salk was commenting on the polio vaccine - yes the oral vaccine contained weakened virus and caused a handful of cases, but prevented millions of cases. BTW this is the reason we use the IM dead virus now, less risk. Much more expensive, but less risk.
The one that isn’t referenced, I keep having to ask. Did you read this?
“Authorities in Kano blame the episode for widespread suspicion of government public health policies, helping fuel a drive by local Islamic leaders who briefly halted polio vaccination efforts in northern Nigeria, causing related infections in other countries where polio had been all-but eradicated.†— I think this is more recent than anything you and the outback guy can cherry pick on the holes in vaccine coverage. Perfect, no. Millions of lives saved, yes. Benefit>risk - unquestionable.
I would go thru and show all of the inaccuracies and out of context statements…. but it is new year’s here in the states. I obviously am not going to convince you to help your countrymen - so I have Run DMC and Arkansas to watch. But keep in mind Nigeria is a third world country - keeping to those ideas dooms it to stay a 3rd world country. Too bad, someone in Nigeria who has internet access could be in a position to help. But try to convince Americans that Nigeria/outback Australia medicine is better, good luck.
So keep to the AIDS theories, I think in the states it was determined the gov’t manufactured the virus to wipe out minorities or homosexuals, or drug users, or one of those. I am sure it is true, I saw it on YouTube. The first spot to go for medical advice, right after wikipedia.
1 last question - when foreign leaders get sick, where do they generally end up? Nigeria, no. Mayo Clinic - ding, ding, ding!! Winner winner chicken dinner. BTW I am guessing Mayo clinic supports vaccinations and medications for HIV positive patients.
pg
Polio vaccines now safer? In Nigeria?
This is a PRO vaccination piece, with a few points of interest re the vaccine:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21149823/
“Polio outbreak sparked by vaccine, experts say
Since 2005, 69 children paralyzed by virus derived from the oral medicine…”
“…In the West, an injectable polio vaccine with inactivated virus is used, to avoid the problems with the oral vaccine. But the oral vaccine used in the developing world is much cheaper than the injectable vaccine, and can be given to children by volunteers with little training…”
“…The delayed reporting of the Nigeria situation may also have delayed the scientific response. If WHO had shared information sooner, “the global research community could have started its laboratory and epidemiological studies earlier,” said Dr. Isao Arita, of the Agency for Cooperation in International Health in Japan.
Scientists are STILL LEARNING how the oral polio vaccine behaves, and need details when problems arise to determine how to avoid similar outbreaks in the future…”
pg
The herd effect?
http://www.med-library.net/content/view/319/41
“In 1989, Oman had a widespread polio outbreak six months after achieving COMPLETE vaccination.”
TOdd
Why don’t you send me that article? And BTW I am not looking at a guys site advocating homeopathy. And before we get any further, I don’t believe in magnet therapy either.
I keep having to ask. Did you read this?
“Authorities in Kano blame the episode for widespread suspicion of government public health policies, helping fuel a drive by local Islamic leaders who briefly halted polio vaccination efforts in northern Nigeria, causing related infections in other countries where polio had been all-but eradicated.â€
pg
YES TOdd, I have read it, many times.
In a country where AIDS is rife (WHATEVER the cause) and yet oral vaccination, discontinued in the US in 2000, is given to Africans when information is known that it should NOT be given to people with suppressed immune systems BUT the World Health Organisation doesn’t feel any need to change the system and give the safer version to Africans - what do you EXPECT Islamic Leaders (or ANYONE who genuinely cares about children that just happen to have a different colored skin) to think?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21149823/
“…WHO said that changing the vaccination strategy is unnecessary. “It would be nice if we had a more stable ORAL polio vaccine, but that’s not the way it is today,” Heymann said. “We will continue working the way we have been working because we don’t want children to be paralyzed anywhere.”
http://fiu.edu/~health/faq/hivfaq.htm
“…NO ORAL POLIO VACCINE should be given. Inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) is the only polio vaccine recommended for hiv-positive individuals and their contacts…”
[in the Western World]
Ronnie
how much does it cost for a test tube in a hospital if u broke 1 by accident, what if u are not from Africa and u are in that hospital and broke some test tubes will u have to pay for them
ronnie